Elements for an EU's pan-Atlantic agenda: building an Atlantic community
The Atlantic space – comprising the four regions along the Atlantic Ocean, namely North America, Central and South America and the Caribbean, Europe and Africa – is not a region defined by natural borders. Nevertheless, it can be conceptualized as a large geo-strategic space that is characterized by common features and challenges, from which it is possible to derive a number of linked-up dynamics and emerging trends. The Atlantic space is particularly relevant for the European Union (EU) and can be regarded both as an arena for its international projection and a test bed for its global governance agenda, particularly in regard to the adoption of the EU Global Strategy. This paper sketches out some elements for an EU’s pan-Atlantic agenda: it focuses on both policy priorities that the EU should set and implement in an Atlantic dimension – in the four sectors of economy and finances, security, energy and environment, and people and institutions – and the type of engagement that the EU should develop with Atlantic partners in order to establish effective structures of governance.
Paper produced within the framework of the Atlantic Future project, February 2016.
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Details
Barcelona, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), February 2016, 14 p. (Atlantic Future Policy Reports ; 2)
1. Introduction
2. Towards an EU Global Strategy. Why the Atlantic matters
3. Building a pan-Atlantic agenda: setting the EU’s strategic objectives and policy priorities
3.1. Economy and trade
3.2. Security
3.3. Energy and environment
3.4. People and institutions
4. Tackling governance in the Atlantic space: a modular approach
4.1. Fostering an Atlantic agenda for global governance
4.2. Promoting hybrid regionalism
4.3. Reshaping inter-regional cooperation
4.4. Supporting new forms of governance with external stakeholders
4.5. Potentiating strategic partnership
4.6. Elaborating soft power strategies
5. Conclusion
6. References